Starting smoking is an act of rebellion. Even as a teenager, I knew it was really bad for me. And guess what, I didn't care!

I proved it by abusing my body with cigarettes and snuff for 20 years. How cool was I?

Not very. Especially when it came time to quit. It ranks with the most difficult things I ever had to do, and I am so glad I won't have to do it again.

Apparently, President Obama had similar troubles.

In an unguarded moment on Monday, President Barack Obama joked that he was able to successfully quit smoking “because I'm scared of my wife.”

Following a Civil Society Roundtable at the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly meeting, an open mic caught the president questioning U.N. Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai about his smoking habit.

“I hope you quit smoking,” Obama said as the two greeted each other after the event.

Kiai said he still enjoyed a smoke from time-to-time, and asked Obama if he had been able to kick the habit.

“I haven't had a cigarette in 6 years...that's because I'm scared of my wife," Obama told him with a grin.

 

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